Have a cold? Wish it would go away? Now you may be able to help along the symptoms of the common cold, and get back to feeling better in a shorter time. A new research study has shown the effectiveness of higher dose zinc lozenges to shorten the duration of a cold significantly.

Zinc Lozenges may help shorten the common cold!

“According to a meta-analysis of three randomized controlled trials zinc acetate lozenges may increase the rate of recovery from the common cold three fold. On the fifth day, 70% of the zinc lozenge patients had recovered compared with 27% of the placebo patients….The dose of zinc in the three studies was between 80 to 92 mg/day.”

What are the best zinc lozenges to use? Seems like there is a little bit to the proper selection of lozenges to have this type of effect on your cold. You need to find a lozenge with the right concentration of zinc, and one which does not contain substances that will bind the zinc ions, not allowing for full effectiveness, ingredients such as citric acid.

“Although the lead author, Dr. Harri Hemilä from the University of Helsinki, Finland, suggests that the optimal formulation of zinc lozenges and the best frequency of their administration should be further investigated, he also instructs common cold patients to test individually whether zinc lozenges are helpful for them: “given the strong evidence of efficacy and the low risk of adverse effects, common cold patients may already be encouraged to try zinc acetate lozenges not exceeding 100 mg of elemental zinc per day for treating their colds.””

Don’t you think giving a try of a zinc lozenge is worth a try for a few days to see it if works for you? I know I wouldn’t mind, especially if I needed to share an office space with you all day while you are sniffing, blowing, coughing and sneezing!

Can eating an early dinner, or skipping dinner altogether, be healthier for you? A new study shows results that are significant for health benefits when you do so.

“The first human test of early time-restricted feeding found that this meal-timing strategy reduced swings in hunger and altered fat and carbohydrate burning patterns, which may help with losing weight. In early time-restricted feeding (eTRF), people eat their last meal by the mid-afternoon and don’t eat again until breakfast the next morning. The findings were unveiled during an oral presentation today at The Obesity Society Annual Meeting at ObesityWeek 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana.”

Did you know eating nuts can calm inflammation in your body? Me either! I’ve always loved nuts, but viewed them as fat, to consume as little as possible or face the scales. The past few months, I have added nuts to my diet and haven’t seen the weight gain I feared, thankfully, love the feeling of fullness and added crunch and flavor in my snacks or by themselves. Along comes a new study with wonderful news of what consuming nuts can do for your health.

Nuts to Help Calm Your Body’s Inflammation!

“In a study of more than 5,000 people, investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital have found that greater intake of nuts was associated with lower levels of biomarkers of inflammation, a finding that may help explain the health benefits of nuts. The results of the study appear July 27 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.”

If you were asked to participate in the study, which nuts would you like to eat regularly? Almonds? Walnuts? Cashews? Pecans? Pine Nuts? I’m in love with cashews right now. Have bags of them stored in a variety of places so I never have to go far to ward off hunger pains with a quick handful. I’ve also found a great “Paleonola” nut mixture that I mix into my greek yogurt every morning.

“Population studies have consistently supported a protective role of nuts against cardiometabolic disorders such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and we know that inflammation is a key process in the development of these diseases,” said corresponding author Ying Bao, MD, ScD, an epidemiologist in BWH’s Channing Division of Network Medicine. “Our new work suggests that nuts may exert their beneficial effects in part by reducing systemic inflammation.”

Since increasing my consumption of nuts in exchange for cookies, I’ve not seen a major weight loss, and will be curious to see how my cholesterol and triglyceride levels will change when I have them drawn again in a few months.

“After adjusting for age, medical history, lifestyle and other variables, they found that (the 120,000 Registered Nurse) participants who had consumed five or more servings of nuts per week had lower levels of (inflammatory biomarkers) than those who never or almost never ate nuts. In addition, people who substituted three servings per week of nuts in place of red meat, processed meat, eggs or refined grains had significantly lower (inflammatory biomarker) levels, as well.”

What do you think? Are these results enough to encourage you to add nuts to your diet?

Depression is becoming more and more common, at younger ages. You don’t have to have been in combat to experience it. Many young people have faced traumatic life situations from family stress, bullying, to unexpected crises in health or relationships, and more. The skills and support needed for young persons to successfully cope with post traumatic stress, as well as for any one at any age, can be difficult to acquire. Pharmacological treatments have side effects, which can add to difficulty in coping and optimizing one out of depression.

Beautiful, Healthy Blueberries!

Enter blueberries.

“For many people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), available medical treatments offer only limited relief. In a series of studies conducted in rats, researchers have found that eating blueberries could help to reduce the genetic and biochemical drivers behind depression and suicidal tendencies associated with the disorder.” [Read more…]

How would you like to leave your home each morning relaxed and as fully prepared as you can be for the day ahead? Yes, we all know that unexpected happens, but if you have a routine it will provide the confidence and calm to withstand almost anything that comes your way. It will give you the best chance of a day that flows as peacefully as possible.

1. Rise & Shine. Awaken before the sun rises so I can watch it fill the sky with beauty. Take slow deep breaths, express gratitude for the day ahead, my health, and my eyes which are able to take in the beauty before me.

This morning’s beautiful sunrise!

2. (Optional) Oil Pulling. This is something I put in my routine about a year and a half ago. My teeth are whiter, gums have stopped receding and are healthier, sinuses are clearer and I’m staying very healthy. [Read more…]

Bone broth is gaining popularity among those seeking healthy living, wellness and disease prevention. I began to seriously think about trying some when someone asked me what I thought about it for aiding healing of Crohn’s and Celiac’s diseases.

In his post about Bone Broth Cocktails, he discusses the many benefits from drinking this magical broth, which includes an excellent source of minerals, healing the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract, decreasing inflammation throughout the body, and boosting the amount of collagen and elastin available to our joints, skin and nails.

My Whole Foods Market has started selling it by the cupful, in chicken, turkey and beef varieties. Today, I waited and waited for it to be readied for serving until I could wait no more as my frozen items in my shopping cart were melting. I am intent on trying it. Not sure about the cocktail unless it is a hot toddy before going to bed. Now that sounds very relaxing, comforting and probably a very good time to drink it, as your body may absorb the nutrients better as you rest though the night.

Have you tried bone broth yet? If so, what are your thoughts, why do you drink it and what health or beauty benefits are you experiencing?

You’ve heard that consistently sitting for extended periods of time is a death sentence, right? Now there is a bright spot in that darkness, as a team of researchers from the University of Utah School of Medicine have discovered by adding a bit of exercise for as little as two minutes every hour, we can extend our life expectancy. If you’re anything like me, immediately a picture flashed before your eyes of walking “vigorously” to the break room for a cup of coffee and pastry! NO! It means moving around expending a bit of energy for a couple of minutes, sans eating! [Read more…]

Coffee and a bran muffin used to be my standard breakfast when I was a younger, thinner version of myself. Through the years, especially when my children entered the picture, I found myself hungrier from all the physical activity of chasing them around, and eating heartier meals. Now that they are grown, I’ve gotten rid of the gluten, and with that a lot of starchy carbs, going to higher protein meals with a mix of lean meats, cottage cheese, and eggs. I’m also eating my largest meal of the day at lunch.

Looks like there is a greater benefit to eating higher protein for breakfast other than staying full longer. It is now being shown to help control your blood glucose and insulin levels, helping to fend off diabetes. [Read more…]

We want the vibrant glow of health in our skin and appearance, right? That beautiful radiance comes from inside – be it your disposition and thoughts, and physical health, together with a relaxed style life. All of these are affected by what we choose to eat. No, this is not another post about a new diet, cleanse or fast. Today, I would like to chat with you about seeing your physical self as the home of your “joie de vivre” spirit, personality, and character.

I would like to encourage you to take care of your bodily home. To nourish it with fresh, colorful nutrients and minerals so that it looks pristine, and functions optimally, in which you can put your very best self forward every single day to your family, friends, colleagues and the world!

Beginning about eight weeks ago, I began to eliminate foods known to be the commonly identified allergens, which can cause us to gain weight. My post “Which Hidden Food Allergies Might be Making You Gain Weight?” identifies food with gluten, dairy, corn, chocolate, tomatoes, eggs, soy, peanuts, beef, processed or cured meats, seafood, citrus, yeast, bell peppers, eggplant, potatoes, sugar, and caffeine as common culprits.

When your doctor tells you to make lifestyle changes, what does that mean? By now I think everyone knows the big changes to make:

Stop smoking,

cut out alcohol,

start exercising regularly,

eat a healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, lean meats and nuts.

One could do all of the above, and without working on reducing stress – or learning how to change your perception of things that cause you stress – your risk for stress related health issues will remain the same.

How do we get a handle on stress so that it no longer influences our health in a negative way? [Read more…]

“You’re a nurse, let me ask you a question…”, is usually how it begins, followed by a laundry list of symptoms they are having. I inquire as to what supplements they are taking, meaning what do they consume in addition to a healthy diet. The look on their face usually changes – eyebrows raise as they begin to share this tablet, that vitamin, another brand of something. I usually ask, is that all? Are you taking anything for weight loss or energy? Which brings more to the list. Then I ask if they are taking the standard recommended amount of each, which then prompts the confession of double and even triple amounts, sometimes two to three times a day.

The saying “if some is good, more is better” does not apply to medications or supplements, in my opinion. Treating ourselves with supplemental vitamins and a wide variety of plant extracts, herbs and other holistic foods should be proceeded with a cautionary note. Here are some: [Read more…]

Don’t you think showing some spunk makes you look younger and fabulous? I do! How many women, or men, do you know who have a vibrant energy that defies their age? They look and act young, they energize a the whole room like rays of sunshine on a cloudy day. What does it take to be spunky, or whatever way you describe someone who is makes a positive difference in the lives of others each day?

Here’s what I think:

Good Health – there’s e
nergy in moving around with agility, having a “Spring in your step”!

Clear Eyes – so they twinkle with your smile, and can share your joy when you catch someone’s glance. [Read more…]

You know one of my favorite things to do is to SMILE!! Why? “I Love To Smile” will tell you. Wearing a smile, even when speaking on the phone, helps your happy personality shine through. Now there are more research findings showing that smiling can help us overcome a stressful event. Truly.

“In a study forthcoming in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, psychological scientists Tara Kraft and Sarah Pressman of the University of Kansas investigate the potential benefits of smiling by looking at how different types of smiling, and the awareness of smiling, affects individuals’ ability to recover from episodes of stress.”

Their “findings show that smiling during brief stressors can help to reduce the intensity of the body’s stress response, regardless of whether a person actually feels happy.” Science Daily

The different types of smiling noted were a basic grin versus a smile that includes the eyes (I call this the “Twinkling Eyes” effect). Try it – right now. Grin, and then smile a smile that includes your eyes. You can’t help but feel a big smile right down to your heart. I can totally see how smiling can help smooth out those rough days.

Smiling allows you to be ready to laugh when the opportunity presents!

Grape seed extract is a rich source of antioxidants, including proanthocyanidins. Several studies have demonstrated the health benefits of grape seed extract, which include protection from oxidative stress, cardiovascular health support, and immune system support. It also shows promise as a cancer fighting ingredient.

With so many people developing skin cancer each day, it’s great to hear about natural ingredients that help with prevention. Those colorful fruits and vegetables are loaded with amazing health benefits. [Read more…]

It just happens. Your life is busy, time flies by, and the next thing you know you are ambushed by Stacy and Clinton from “What Not to Wear”! Well, almost.

This is when you realize your skin is starting to sag, gray hairs are springing up, you can’t find your makeup colors at the store because they’re no longer being made, your pants all have elastic waistbands, and your kids cringe when you get out of the car in public. Is this you? This was me. My daughter did send in a request for Stacy and Clinton to work their magic on me. Twice. I don’t need to say anymore!

I kind of lost myself in everyone else’s lives and let my own go. As time went on, and the kids became more independent, I could see my light at the end of the “mommy” tunnel. I took on a new job, and started a new business. Being back in the “real world” caused me to take stock of my public image, and realize that I needed to make changes in order to be someone people were proud to be around, happy to be seen in public with, and someone my family and colleagues could look up to.

Here are my tips from my tweaks, updates and overhaul over the past couple of years: [Read more…]

Welcome to “I’m Looking Fabulous’!

“I’m Looking Fabulous” is my place where I hope to share some of my wonderful findings along life’s journey that have helped me to look and feel more confident. Here, I will introduce you to some very special people who are passionate about making your life’s journey more beautiful, enjoyable and fulfilling!

Stay Fabulous

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Carleen McIlveen at the Spa

Click Carleen's picture above to listen to her interview about using Apriori Beauty products at the spa.

A Little About Candace

Candace Dye is an Apriori Beauty Consultant and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. Her passion is helping others to uncover and enhance their true inner radiance with tips for health, wellness, skin care and beauty!